The mission of Child Soldier Relief Foundation (CSR), a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization designated by the Internal Revenue Code, is to advocate on behalf of child soldiers by serving as a central repository of information on all topics relating to the topic of child soldiers.

On Tuesday, Judge Fulford ruled that the prosecution may interview a former suspect the prosecution questioned in 2005, known to the Court as Witness 3. It is expected that the prosecution will question Witness 3 about the intermediaries for the Court and although the defense will not be present for the questioning, the prosecution will provide the defense and the chambers with a transcript.

On May 17…

Witness 297 told the Court he was abducted from school and then forced into the UPC and stated that he saw Lubanga twice during his time as a soldier.

The witness further testified during the week that although he was offered money by a social relief worker if he left the UPC, he was hesitant to do so because being a soldier ensured that he had money.

On May 19, Judge Fulford asked the defense when they planned to make their dismissal of the case against Lubanga on the grounds of abuse of process, which the defense had notified the Court they planned to do back in January. The defense stated they would make the application after two intermediaries and an investigator for the Office of the Prosecutor gives testimony.

On May 24…

Witness 297 admitted that he lied in his statement when he told investigators that his commander had been Floribert Kisembo, rather than Bosco Ntaganda as he stated in Court. The witness explained that he had been afraid to mention Ntaganda’s name as he had heard his name on the radio. He further stated, “Yes, I told investigators that I saw Bosco three times but I was afraid of saying everything about him… because I said to myself that I might be arrested and thrown in prison. Or I might be asked to tell people where Bosco was.”